Maura Nsonwu, PhD, MSW, LCSW is an Associate Professor and Interim BSW Director in the Department of Social Work and Sociology at North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University.
Maura worked as a social worker in refugee resettlement in the 1980’s and has continued her work with refugee communities for 30 years as an educator, cultural broker, and researcher in program
development and community based research project. She has received external funding and produced numerous publications in this area of inquiry. Maura’s affiliation with the Association of Refugee
Service Providers (ARSP) has been through the Center for New North Carolinians (CNNC) at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) where she has been a research fellow since 2004
serving refugee/immigrant communities as an advocate/scholar. She is the 2010 recipient of the CNNC Sister Gretchen Reintjes recognition award honoring persons who have made outstanding
contributions to refugee and immigrant families.

Sandra Mullins | VICE PRESIDENT

Sandra Mullins is the CEO of Care and Counseling Center of Atlanta. CCCG has been in existence since 1957 when it began the chaplaincy program at Grady Hospital CCCG’s
mission is to “offer healing, wholeness, and hope to those in need and to educate others for that service”. CCCG is one of the largest providers of pastoral care and counseling
services in the country and partners with Emory Candler School of Theology, Columbia Seminary, and Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC) to train students. CCCG has
partnered with the Refugee Service Providers in Georgia to serve refugees through providing counseling and also training for staff in the area of behavioral health.
Sandra served as the Executive Director of Refugee Resettlement and Immigration Services of Atlanta for 11 years. She has 33 years of experience working with nonprofit
and church-related organizations. During her time with RRISA she traveled to refugee camps in Thailand, Ghana, and Turkey to oversee the process for refugees to be
resettled in the United States.
Sandra is ordained and served as pastor for three congregations and served nine years as Assistant Conference Minister in the Southeast Conference for the United Church of
Christ. During those years of service she worked with 90 congregations designing and implementing programs for local churches.
Over the past 20 years Sandra has coordinated a number of USAID-funded international nonprofit training and development programs in NGO Management and
in Gender-based Violence Prevention. She has also been responsible for developing long-range fundraising plans, recruiting and training volunteers and key leadership,
strategic planning for various organizations, such as Girls Clubs, YWCA, Georgia State University Women’s Center, The Friendship Force, Winrock International/NIS-US
Women’s Consortium.
Sandra is a founding member and officer of the Association for Refugee Service Professionals (ARSP).

Holly Sienkiewicz | PRESIDENT ELECT

Holly Sienkiewicz, DrPH, is the Director of Research at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro's Center for New North Carolinians (CNNC). She also teaches several classes at UNCG including Immigrant
and Refugee Health and International Health. She received her Doctorate from UNCG in Public Health Education where she focused her studies on refugee health. Her Master’s degree is from Seton Hall
University in International Relations and Diplomacy with concentrations in Global Health and African Studies. Prior to her position at the CNNC, Holly worked as a Research Scientist and Evaluator at the
Center for Social, Community, and Health Research and Evaluation at UNCG. She has extensive experience in community-based evaluation methodologies. Current funded projects include a research and evaluation
contract with the Office of Women against Violence and grants with the Office of Refugee Resettlement and many local foundations. Holly’s research interests include integration patterns and benchmarks
for new arrivals and the effects of housing models on refugees’ mental and physical health.

Raleigh Bailey | SECRETARY

Raleigh Bailey, Ph.D., is founding Director of the Center for New North Carolinians (CNNC) at UNCG and Senior Research Scientist in the Office of
Research and Economic Development at UNCG. In 2001, CNNC was established by the UNC Board of Governors to be a resource to the state university system
in immigrant outreach, research, and training. It was built upon the AmeriCorps Cross Cultural Education Service Systems, established in 1994. In 2003 he
received the lifetime achievement award from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Refugee Program for service to refugees, and in 2008
he received the Outstanding Leadership Award from the North Carolina Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service. In March of 2010 the Office of the
Governor of the State of North Carolina awarded him the Order of the Long Leaf Pine.
During 1993 and 1994, Raleigh administered the Casa Guadalupe Hispanic Outreach Project for Catholic Social Services in Winston-Salem. From 1989 to 1993, he
lived in Southeast Asia: first in Thailand where he administered an English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) refugee training program through the Department
of State; and then in Cambodia where he administered a USAID funded prosthetics project for land mine victims. Prior to that, 1984-89, Raleigh served as Director
of Refugee Programs for Lutheran Family Services in the Carolinas. During that time he directed the initial Montagnard resettlement project in the US. The
project received a White House Presidential Citation. From 1976 to 1984, Raleigh was an education and training specialist with the Head Start State Training
Office at NC A & T State University. Prior to that, he taught anthropology at Guilford College. He has an undergraduate degree from Florida Southern College
and a theological degree from Boston University. His doctoral work at Hartford Seminary Foundation was in anthropology of religion. He was born in Miami,
Florida, in 1943 and moved to Greensboro in 1973.

Bob Palm | TREASURER

Bob Palm is currently semi-retired and until his retirement served as Vice President for Refugee Services of Texas, Inc. Prior to that Mr. Palm served as an Affiliate
Resettlement Director for Church World Service and Episcopal Migration Ministries, and as a Regional Consultant for Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service. Mr. Palm
is a founding member and currently serves as President of the Board of Directors for the Association for Refugee Service Professionals (ARSP) and served on the Board of
Directors for the Institute for Social and Economic Development in Washington, D.C., (ISED). Mr. Palm has thirty years of experience in the field of refugee resettlement,
and more recently nine years of experience directing a program for survivors of human trafficking for the Office for Victims of Crime, (OVC) and for the U.S. Committee for
Refugees and Immigrants, (USCRI). Mr. Palm attended the University of Minnesota, Duluth, where he earned a Bachelors degree in Psychology and attended Graduate
School at Worden's School of Social Service, at Our Lady of the Lake University, San Antonio, Texas.

Carol Roxburgh

After a long career in refugee resettlement, Carol Roxburgh is now working as a consultant since April 2015. Joining CWS Corporate Center in February 2013, Carol held the positions of
Associate Director for Local Offices and prior to that position, the Associate Director for Pre Arrival Services. Prior to joining CWS in February 2013, Carol was CEO of Refugee Services of
Texas from 2002 and was on staff since 1996 in various other positions. Carol has been a presenter at many national and state conferences and has served on the CWS Affiliate Advisory
Group and as a member and past chair of the LIRS Regional Consultants Advisory Committee. Her experience in resettlement also includes travel to refugee camps in Kenya, Ghana and
Thailand. She is a founding member and officer of the Association for Refugee Service Professionals. Carol has a bachelor and master’s degree from Dallas Baptist University.

Lisa David

Lisa has nearly two decades of experience working with refugees, and a career that has included both domestic resettlement and overseas processing. She has
worked with the International Rescue Committee since 1999. She currently holds the position of Senior Program Coordinator in Malaysia, overseeing operations of the
Resettlement Support Center – East Asia's sub-office in Kuala Lumpur. Prior to this, she held various positions with the RSC's main office in Bangkok, Thailand
between 2007 and 2012. Before moving abroad, Lisa served as the Executive Director of the IRC's Dallas, Texas Resettlement Office and during her tenure
there oversaw the establishment of the sub-office in Abilene. Prior to joining IRC, she worked with Catholic Charities in Boston where she managed the Refugee
Resettlement program and volunteered as Coordinator of a Haitian refugee women's group. She also served as voluntary Chair of the Resource Center for Women and
International Development, a joint Harvard/MIT group. Prior to entering the refugee field, Lisa served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Jamaica for two years assisting rural
women with microenterprise projects. She holds a M.A. in Intercultural Relations from Lesley College and a B.A. in Political Science/International Relations from the
University of Rochester.

Ruth Bersin

The Rev. Ruth H. Bersin, M.A.R., M.Div., D. Min, Ph.D. is an Episcopal Priest with experience as a teacher and in the business
world. She has extensive experience in immigration issues. She has worked in the nonprofit sector since 1975 and is a Certified Fund
Raising Executive with extensive experience in marketing and fund raising. She is currently the Executive Director of Refugee
Immigration Ministry in Boston. She was Executive Director for English Life Line from 1989-1992 and served as a Civilian clergy
person on the Yokosuka Navy Base at that time. Dr. Bersin is a clinical member of American Association of Pastoral Counselors and
a Certified Fund Raising Executive. She has training as a chaplain in a reform school, in a medical center and she received a trauma
certificate from the Trauma Center in Brookline. In addition, she received specialized training for police chaplaincy in 1996 following
her work as Team Leader for the National Organization of Victim Assistance in response to the Oklahoma City bombing. She has
provided training for volunteer chaplains for detention centers across the country. In collaboration with the Massachusetts Office
for Refugees and Immigrants she organized a conference for Refugee Service Providers. She is serving on the National Association for
Refugee Service Professionals and on the National Advisory Committee for Episcopal Migration Ministries. Dr. Bersin has written on
Spirituality in the Recovery Process after Traumatic Experience and has given papers on the subject to numerous conferences including
the Episcopal East Coast Military Chaplains Conference, Association of Trauma Stress Specialists, and American Association of Pastoral
Counselors. She has published an article: "Healing Traumatic Memories: A Spiritual Journey." in Theological Literacy for
the 21st Century, Eerdmans, 2002 and "Life Beyond the Gates." in The Antoich Agenda, Andover Newton Theological School
and The Boston Theological Institute, New Delhi, 2007. Her dissertation topic: "Community-based Resettlement: Refugees,
Asylum Seekers and Asylees Rebuild Their Lives with the Help of Congregations and Community."

Caitriona Lyons

Caitriona Lyons began her work in the area of refugee and immigration programs many years ago and is privileged to be working for the US
refugee program. She is currently the Refugee Program Coordinator for the State of Texas Health and Human, Services Commission.
Prior to this, she worked in the Government Relations department within the Texas Department of Human Services as an immigration
specialist. She has extensive work experience in the non-profit sector including the direction of a refugee resettlement program in
Austin for USCCB. Caitriona has a master's in Human Services Administration from St. Edward's University and is a licensed
social worker. She is the past President for the State Coordinator's of Refugee Resettlement association and currently serves on the
executive board. In June 2006, Caitriona was awarded Outstanding American by Choice by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services
for her work with immigrants and refugees in Texas.

Donna Magnuson

Donna Magnuson's passion for refugee resettlement began over 18 years ago and has grown exponentially since that time. She began her
career in North Dakota working with refugee children in schools and unaccompanied refugee minors in foster care.
For the past 12 years, Donna has been the Director of the Refugee and Immigration Center for Lutheran Social Services of South Dakota. Her
years of experience have allowed her to develop various programs that assist families with reaching self-sufficiency and community integration.
She has managed many aspects of refugee resettlement from initial and ongoing case management, pre-employment and employment placement,
multiple English language training and vocational English language services, refugee cash assistance through the Wilson-Fish program, immigration
services and interpreter services.
She has advocated for refugees at local, state, and national levels and has held offices on the Executive Committee of SCORR (State Coordinators of
the Office of Refugee Resettlement) most recently as Vice President. She has also served on the LIRS Regional Consultant Advisory Committee both
as a member and most recently as Chair of that committee.
She believes in the mission and service model that the client is at the center of all services. "Working in this field is not my job but my passion and who I
am as an individual". She says that she has one of the best jobs in the world because she gets to take a walk around the world every day without leaving home.

Patricia Williams Priest

Since arriving to Greensboro in 1970 and graduating from University of NC-Greensboro (BA, Psychology) and NC Agricultural & Technical State University (MS Guidance/Counseling),
Pat has dedicated her professional career to strengthening communities, one family at a time. In her early work with the Head Start Program, she developed programs for children and
families (first in Greensboro; then statewide) to support them in becoming empowered and to make decisions about their education and future. It became Pat’s life work challenging
individuals and institutions and improving systems that prevent equal access and full participation in community life, especially for those who would be marginalized.
For nearly 30 years, Pat has applied her knowledge and experience to carryout our nation's international humanitarian commitment to welcome refugees from foreign countries plagued
by war, genocide, and human trafficking. While ascending to become Vice President of Lutheran Family Services in the Carolinas, hundreds of refugees were guided by her leadership
and successfully resettled in the Triad, making Greensboro and surrounding areas home.
Sill living and volunteering her services in Greensboro with an office in Raleigh, NC, Pat continues this work at the state level with the Department of Health & Human Services (past 6 years).
There she serves as a Program Consultant to refugee service programs across the state that facilitate resettlement in communities helping newly arrived families navigate living in American
society, while preparing communities to welcome their new neighbors.
Core Interests:

Child & Family Advocacy

Early Childhood Education

Community & Civic Engagement

Activist for Social Justice, Economic and Education Democracy

Truth and Community Reconciliation

Sharon D. Morrison, MSPH, PhD

Sharon D. Morrison is an Associate Professor in the Department of Public Health Education at University of North Carolina Greensboro (UNCG). She is also a
Research Fellow with the Center for New North Carolinians at UNCG. She has been involved with refugee health and integration projects since 2001. These have
included cultural adaptation resource availability for nutrition and health among newcomers; ethnic community strategies for childcare; HIV/AIDS prevention and
stigma reduction in communities; flu prevention awareness with Francophone refugee households; risk factors in post-resettlement chronic and emergent
conditions in S.E. Asian and other refugees; and social support and empowerment activities with Congolese and other African women. She and her students have
partnered with local Refugee Resettlement Agencies and other higher education institutions on these community-engaged projects. Sharon was an AmeriCorps
Access Volunteer during 2006-2007, and served as a Professional Corp Volunteer on the AmeriCorps Community Collaboration Project from 2009-2010.
She is a member of the Montagnard Health Disparities Research Network, a community-based research partnership for solutions to post-resettlement problems
faced by this longstanding refugee community. She is interested in the global refugee crisis and has travelled to Malaysia, Rwanda and Vienna to observe refugee
protection and processing for U.S. resettlement. Sharon earned a PhD in Health Behavior, an MS in Health Science Education and a Graduate Certificate in Latin
American and Caribbean Studies from the University of Florida, an MSPH from the Gillings School of Global Health at UNC-Chapel Hill and a BS from Barry University in
Florida.

Karin Wachter, PhD, MEd

Karin Wachter, PhD, MEd, is an Assistant Professor in Phoenix at Arizona State University, School of Social Work. Karin worked for ten years
as a humanitarian aid worker with the International Rescue Committee focused on violence against women and girls in war and displacement,
primarily in African contexts. Since returning to academia, she has worked with U.S.-based refugee resettlement agencies as an evaluator and
researcher. Her current research focuses on the intersection of forced migration, violence against women, and social support.